Home FOOD & DINING Weekend Cheat Sheet: Summer Staycation

Weekend Cheat Sheet: Summer Staycation

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Why go away when there’s plenty of summer fun to be had right here in your own hometown? Explore the culture and cuisine of New Orleans this weekend and save yourself the trip.

Friday

Lunch at: Beloved local chef Susan Spicer’s family friendly restaurant Rosedale has certainly not gone unnoticed by locals who frequent the police-station-turned-eatery quite regularly. Spicer and Chef Brett Duffee have worked hard together to create a menu that is both affordable and delicious. Try dishes like the rosemary BBQ shrimp, eggplant caponata with buratta, grilled Gulf fish sandwich with crispy onion rings or the Korean short ribs with spicy pineapple salsa and fresh mint. Rosedale also features excellent desserts from the pineapple mango upside down cake to an ice cream sandwich duo featuring Quintin’s Natural Ice Cream. 801 Rosedale Dr., (504) 309-9595, rosedalerestaurant.com

Sip at: Cool down with some of the finest tiki-style cocktails in the city at Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29. Skilled bartender Kimberly Patton-Bragg is behind the stick serving up incredible drinks like the Pontchartrain Pearl Diver — an iced buttered rum blended with passion fruit and Jamaica rum. Or, wake up the evening with an Espresso Bongo with Gold Jamaican rum, coffee syrup, pineapple, passion fruit, orange and lime. If you need a little something to soak up the booze, Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 also has a great menu with shared items like Rumaki, which is bacon-wrapped jalapeños with chicken liver mousse, water chestnuts and sweet soy or curry-seasoned taro chips with kimchi ketchup and sriracha mayo for dipping. 321 N. Peters St., (504) 609-3811, latitude29nola.com

Appreciate the music at: Established in 1961 in honor of traditional New Orleans Jazz, Preservation Hall is an unforgettable musical experience in an intimate setting. Seated mere feet from the band, there’s nothing for you to do but immerse yourself in performances by artists like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Branden Lewis Quartet, Transition: Partners N’ Crime (hip hop melded with jazz), vocalist and trombonist David L. Harris, Wendell Brunious and more. 726 S. Peters St., (504) 522-2841, preservationhall.com

Saturday

Revive at: Launched in March, Central Business District coffee shop Café Bon Ami is the creation of owners Bonnie Dye and Amy Dye Domangue who are not only Louisiana natives but also former baristas. Located in a 160-year-old structure that originally served as a cotton exchange, Café Bon Ami features brews made from New York roaster Cafe Grumpy, whole leaf Bellocq Teas, an array of baked goods from Levee Baking Co., and sandwiches from Tartine. 822 Perdido St., Ste. E, (504) 962-7374, cafebonami.com

Wear white for: Don your coolest white linens and enjoy an art-filled evening Aug. 4 during the annual Hancock Whitney White Linen Night. The Julia Street party, from the 300 to 700 blocks, will feature exhibition openings at more than a dozen galleries; entertainment from DJ Dreamer, DJ Matt Scott, DJ RQ Away; and cuisine from more than 25 different local restaurants and bars. The evening also promises a Party After Dark at the Contemporary Arts Center and a Cool Down Lounge at Auction House Market. cacno.org/hwwln2018

Dine at: Recently opened by chef and restaurateur Edgar Caro, Zócalo Cocina Mexicana & Cantina is the fourth eatery under his belt. Unlike Baru Bistro & Tapas or Basin Seafood & Spirits, Zócalo is something of a new adventure for the creative chef — the result of several years studying Mexican cuisine. Located in the building on Metairie Road that formerly housed the long-running Vega Tapas Cafe, Zócalo offers items like a raw yellow fin tuna tostada with chipotle tartar, Al Pastor tacos with charred pineapple salsa, carnitas with chayote salad and carne asada with avocado salad. 2051 Metairie Road, (504) 252-9327, zocalonola.com

Sunday

Brunch at: Though it may be hot outside, the summer months are likely the best for locals to enjoy the beauty and history of the French Quarter without a lot of tourists to compete with. Located on the corner of Chartres and Bienville streets, The Governor is the most recent creation from Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts and named after Huey P. Long, our state’s most infamous governor. Brunch is served everyday, all day long, so you can have it whenever you want. Try The Governor’s Breakfast with three eggs, applewood smoked bacon, pork sausage patty and andouille or Eggs Bayou Lafourche with poached eggs, blackened shrimp and sautéed spinach smothered in a remoulade hollandaise. 301 Chartres St., (504) 291-1860, governorrestaurant.com

Enjoy the splendor at: Spend a Sunday afternoon exploring the Longue Vue House & Gardens. This architectural and botanical masterpiece originally began in 1924, designed by landscape architect Ellen Biddie Shipman, and architects William and Geoffrey Platt. This historic, three-story mansion contains 20 rooms replete with original furnishings and four different facades each with its own unique gardens. Longue Vue offers tours of both the house and the gardens, plus various events take place there throughout the year, including art exhibitions, art classes for children and adults, dances, yoga, ice cream socials and more. 7 Bamboo Road, (504) 488-5488, longuevue.com

Relax at: Located inside the NOPSI Hotel, Public Service is a terrific spot to dine and enjoy the beauty of this historic building. Before dinner, you can roam about, and gape at the arched lobby ceiling and black and white photos of classic celebrities — working up an appetite for a splendid Sunday dinner. Start with Louisiana crawfish dip with spinach and mozzarella or Oysters St. Pierre with bacon marmalade and pepper jelly. Feast on an entree like Chappapeela Farms Pork T-Bone with sweet potato gratin or a simple yet delicious Public Burger ground from short rib and topped with bourbon hickory sauce and manchego cheese. 311 Baronne St., (504) 962-6527, publicservicenola.com